Night of Fire sets records for performance

With feature cars lighting up the night, the fourth annual Baxter Auto Parts/Sunbelt Rentals/Bi-Mart Night of Fire made everybody stand on their feet with excitement at the Woodburn Dragstrip Friday through Sunday.

The event opened Friday with a pair of youngsters going head-to-head in the finals of the K&N?Filters ET?Bracket Triple Crown Electronics Race No. 1.

Eighteen-year-old Rayce Kidd faced off against Charlie Dietrich, 19, as the two were separated by the tiniest of margins at the finish line. Kidd left the starting line at 0.012 compared to Dietrichs 0.0.13. Kidd stretched his lead and went on to victory with a time of 7.454 compared to Dietrichs 7.457.

In the Non-Electronics Race No. 1, Nicholas Shepherd edged out Brad Burton by 0.031 after Burton took the advantage at the starting line.

Also on Friday, Joey Severance lowered the time mark in the Top Alcohol Dragster category from 5.268 to 5.236, only to obliterate the record later in his rocketship dragster, clocking in at 5.224.

On Saturday, Dan Shepherd took a victory over John Chitwood in the Electronics Race No. 2, while Ron Sears took home the win over Casey Allum in the Non-Electronics Race No. 2.

Tom Avgerakis and Dennis Kooker advanced to the finals on Sunday in the Electronics Race No. 3. Avgerakis had the reaction time advantage and was able to get the win after a double-breakout finish.

In the Non-Electronics Race No 3., David Chun Jr. topped Jarod Anderson.

Rounding out the weekends action was Gary Hogansen, who eliminated Mike Ekerson in the finals of the Dragster/Roadster elimination.

Gary Tokos beat out Jim Werre in the finals of the ET?motorcycle race.